The Bridge 3/4

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Why we chose to highlight this story: Community spaces are safe, public spaces where residents can connect. These "third spaces" are integral to what makes a vibrant community, according to reporting by Next Generation Newsroom.

Read the full story here, which features Uncommon Grounds Cafe in Aliquippa.

Why we chose to highlight this story: The arts are an invaluable component of what makes our communities distinct, robust and full of life and creativity.

Learn more about funding concerns for arts groups by reading an article in WESA here. The Genesis Collective, a Beaver County-based arts advocacy group, is featured.

Check out this article in The Times here to find a fish fry near you!

Photos by Erin Ninehouser

By Dani Brown for The Bridge

BEAVER FALLS — Neighborhood North Museum of Play hosted a panel discussion event on Feb. 26 to celebrate Black History Month.

Facilitated by Beaver Falls resident Kolbe Cole and Geneva College Black Student Union President Diamond Fairley, the panel included Black residents from across different sectors. Each panelist was asked to answer how they would respond to different scenarios that affect the Black community.

One example involved how the panelists would respond to someone using a racial slur in front of them, another scenario dealt with displacement caused by new development.

"There are a lot of things going on in Beaver County," Cole said at the start of the event. "A lot of great, exciting things, and a lot of things we're kind of a little hesitant about. So now is the time to really empower each other and to really bring out in the spotlight the everyday scenarios, the everyday decisions that we make and how really impactful they are."

"How do we, as people of color, want to be honored in the building of our community?" Cole added, "Everyday decisions impact that."

Panelists included Jared Miles, Karolyn Williams, Jalil Carl, Andrenna Williams and Shawn Reed.

Watch the full event on Neighborhood North's Facebook page here.

Dr. King Oratorical Competition Winner, Ola Meade, reads her essay.

Video from Facebook.

By Christopher Padgett for The Bridge

ALIQUIPPA — The Dr. Martin Luther King Oratorical Competition took place on Feb. 22 at the Eugene Karmazyn Black Box Theater.

Organized this year by Aliquippa history teacher Yolanda Meade, the competition challenged Aliquippa students to write essays about their favorite Dr. King quote and how it continues to resonate with young people.

"They had to write a short essay about their favorite quote by Dr. King. Then they needed to highlight what that message meant to them, and how the quote embodied the work and vision of Dr. King fighting for justice and equality," Meade said.

The competition, now in its second year, builds on a 30-year tradition previously led by Eugenia Priest as a county-wide event. 

Meade hopes to expand it to more of the Aliquippa School District next year, and then back to a county-wide event in future years.

Ola Meade claimed first place, Katorah Ellis secured second place, and third place was awarded to Mohammed Aziz and Eric Walker.

Connect Beaver County now has an interactive map that shows local internet service providers. Search for an address or zoom to a location in the map. Visit the site here.

"DECODING SHELL'S PERMITS" EVENT HOSTED BY LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGS.

Sara Jane Lippincott (pseudonym Grace Greenwood) was an author, poet, correspondent, lecturer, and newspaper founder. She was one of the first women to gain access into the Congressional press galleries and reportedly used her questions to advocate for social reform and women's rights.

Read more about Lippincott on the Little Beaver Historical Society's Facebook post here.

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